Page 87 of Tell No Lies

“What I did to him? He assaulted me. He drugged me and tried to kidnap me!”

“You think you’re so innocent. Like you didn’t ask for that!”

Tucker was insane. He was just as sick as Morgan.

“The day I saw you on the plane, when I saw your name on the bag, I knew it was you. You were moving on with your life, so happy, while Morgan was locked up. It wasn’t fair!”

He’d been planning this since the moment he saw me? I squeezed Carter’s hand, needing to know I wasn’t alone now.

“How did you find me? How did you get in my home?”

He laughed darkly. “Ah, that was so easy it was almost insulting. My friend from the team lives there. I know the security guards.” He shrugged his shoulders like that was all he needed to say. “I told them there was an emergency one day, and they both took off. I stole a master key.”

That was it? He had a physical key? What else did he have?

“But the alarm …”

He cut me off. “Don’t insult me, Aubrey. That was child’s play.” He looked over at Carter. “Cute attempt, though.”

“The pictures? You were with me in some of them.”

“Oh, Aubrey, you’re so simple-minded. I asked one of the girls for the pictures she took over the weekend. I kept the ones of you. Geez, if I’d known how easy you were to mess with, I would have had a lot more fun!”

That was enough. Talking to him wasn’t making me feel better or safer, just more vulnerable. I stood suddenly and pulled on Carter’s hand. He was up in a blink and ushering me through the door.

“Are you okay?” He was gripping my shoulders and staring at my face.

“No. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I couldn’t listen to any more.”

He pulled me against his side and walked me out of the building. “It’s over now, Aubrey. I know it might not feel like that, but this isn’t going to happen to you again. You’re safe.”

I prayed he was right, but I couldn’t imagine life anymore without being worried about who was watching me. Morgan and Tucker were connected. Was there anyone else who would come after me to avenge Tucker? Andy? One of his other friends?

“Please listen to me, Aubrey.” He opened his passenger door and held it open for me.

I slid in and turned to face him.

“You’re safe. This is over.”

He sounded so sure, so absolutely convinced. But I wasn’t.

☼ ☼ ☼

Liv and Brandon planned a dinner party as a celebration that things were returning to normal. My friends and family were ready to help me move on, and I didn’t think I’d be able to try without them. Their positivity that things were over was gradually spreading to me. It had been a week since the incident, which was how it was being referred to, and I was feeling a little bit better with each passing day.

“Are you ready, Aubrey? People are starting to show up.”

I smiled at Mckayla and stood from my bed. “I guess.” I walked to her and looped my arm through hers.

The kitchen was crowded as people milled around with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Everything looked classy and refined, meaning Liv had put this together.

There was a hush over the room once a few people noticed me walking in. I squeezed Mckayla’s arm closer to me. Why were they acting so strange?

Brandon stepped forward with a smile on his face. “Welcome to the fiesta de Aubrey! We’re all here because we love you and think you’re amazing.”

This was so weird. I felt like I should have had a speech prepared or something. Time to wing it.

“Thank you all for being here.” I looked around and smiled at Carter, who was standing in the corner. “I really appreciate all of the support and love you’ve shown me over the past few months. Who knows where I’d be if I hadn’t had my bodyguards at school?” I smiled at Bear and Donny who were here representing the football boys. “Or my school chaperones.”